
- Putting Your Thoughts on Paper: A Christmas Reindeer Visit
- Gathering materials: family learning journals, pencils, colored pencils, crayons
- Remind them to open their journals to the next available page and date it. Don’t forget to have them label the top of the page with today’s learning topic/skill.
- First: Every family member will need their right hand traced (upside down) on their journal page (older members should place their hand toward the bottom of the page; younger learners will place their hand in the blank space of their primary journals).
- Drafting responses: Allow each family member to write their “Reindeer Visit” story (10-20 min). Encourage the youngest members to draw their thoughts and assign someone to be their scribe.
- Finally: Discuss: Let each family member share their creation. Remind them that respectful listeners make eye contact with the person sharing without interrupting.
- Reading and Writing Connection: Meet the Author: Jan Brett: As an author, her storytelling craft is “honed” to perfection. As an artist, her illustrations are crafted to perfection… adding depth, cultural details, folkloric styling, and character strengths/weaknesses. She is known for her “extra” story lines are portrayed in the borders of each page. *Before the new year… take a trip to FVRL and check out books by Jan Brett! https://janbrett.com/bookstores/reindeer_book.htm

